WhatsApp has launched a new ‘Schedule Calls’ feature, allowing users to plan both group and personal calls in advance on the popular messaging platform.
The Meta-owned company said the feature will be gradually rolled out worldwide, aiming to make both professional and personal communication more seamless. Participants in scheduled group calls will receive notifications when the call is about to begin, with all scheduled calls continuing to remain end-to-end encrypted.
“We’re launching these updates to give users new ways to connect, whether for family catch-ups or professional meetings,” WhatsApp said in a press note on Monday, August 18.
Alongside call scheduling, WhatsApp has also introduced interactive tools such as the ability to raise a hand or react with emojis during calls. A refreshed interface now allows users to view upcoming calls in the Calls tab, check the list of attendees, and share links for others to join. Notifications will also be triggered when someone joins a scheduled call via a shared link.
The update fulfills a long-standing user demand and positions WhatsApp to compete more directly with video-conferencing platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.
The rollout comes after a series of recent updates. Last week, WhatsApp began testing ‘Writing Help’, an AI-powered tool in beta designed to assist with grammar, phrasing, and tone adjustments. In June, the platform confirmed plans to introduce ads in the Status section, while clarifying that personal chats and the Calls tab will remain ad-free.
Amid growing user concerns about privacy and AI integration, the company reiterated its stance on security. A WhatsApp spokesperson said, “Your personal messages on WhatsApp are always protected by end-to-end encryption so that only you and the people you chat with can read or share them. Meta AI on WhatsApp is completely optional and, if you choose to message or invoke Meta AI in your chats, it can only read what you share with it.”
